Pessary



y 9, 1939- P. L. CLARK. JR 2,157,689 7 PESSARY Original Filed Nov. 2,1955 Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFWE Originalapplication November 2, 1935, Serial No. 47,956, now Patent No.2,103,319, dated Dccember 28, 1937.

Divided and this application May 24, 1937, Serial No. 144,436

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a pessary or vaginal diaphragm, this applicationbeing a division of Patent No. 2,103,319, patented December 28, 1937.

A pessary is commonly employed for applying a medicament to the genitalorgans of a female and holding it in place, and one of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a device of the character describedthat will be, to a certain extent, universally adaptable, so far as sizeand location of the organs is concerned.

It is well known that there is rather wide variation in the size of thevaginal cavity, the position and size of the mouth of the uterus and thesize of the vaginal opening. The pessary disclosed herein has beendesigned to adapt itself to wide variations in the described elementsand to be used with a simple appliance that will enable the patient toapply and remove the diaphragm without the aid of a physician.

I am aware that constructions have been proposed in which a cervical capis formed in the diaphragm, the purpose of the cap being to receive andoverlie the cervix and to contain a quantity of a medicament. In allsuch constructions, however, the matter of size and location of themouth of the uterus is of prime importance inasmuch as the devices arenot capable of adjusting themselves to variations; furthermore, in theprocess of insertion of the device, the lack of flexibility practicallyinvariably results in squeezing out the medicament from the sack anddispersing it either exteriorly or interiorly of the vagina rather thanretaining it until positioned as intended.

An object of my invention is to provide a pessary having a cervical cupor cap and to provide a large excess of thin rubber materialconstituting the diaphragm that connects the supporting ring to the cup.This excess of material is so disposed as to insure complete flexibilityin the positioning of the cup over the mouth of the uterus, regardlessof its position in the vaginal cavity. Thus if the cervix is notcentrally located, the cup may adjust itself thereto or to any locationwithin the supporting ring.

I prefer to provide an applicator which is so designed that it enablesthe insertion of the pessary with the medicament in the sack withoutsqueezing out any substantial part thereof. This desirable result isfurther assured by reason of another improvement; that is, the slightcontracting of the mouth of the sack. The applicator is so constructedthat it is practically entirely enveloped in the material of the pessarywhen the insertion is made and is arranged to retain the sack containingthe medicament in such position that it is unlikely to be squeezedduring the process of insertion.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the vaginal diaphragm of my invention, aportion of the rubber being broken away to show the rim construction;

Fig. 2 is a side view partly broken away to show a portion of the devicein section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the applicator;

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the applicator in engagement with thediaphragm; and,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views showing the method of applying the diaphragm.

The pessary or vaginal diaphragm of my invention comprises a relativelystiff but flexible rim consisting of a continuous coil ID of wireembedded in a rubber covering. The rim nor mally is circular as shown,but may readily be distorted into a long oval shape as shown in Fig. 4when engaged with the applicator for insertion. A sack or cup II isprovided composed of soft flexible rubber, the neck l2 of the cup beingslightly contracted and the material thickened as at l2a for a reasonthat will be later explained. The cup is joined to the rim by means of adiaphragm consisting of an annular portion l3 and a curved portion [4.The annular portion depends from the ring (or projects upwardlytherefrom depending upon the position in which the device is held) andthe quantity of material in the parts l3 and M is substantially greaterthan would be necessary if the diaphragm were projected laterally in aplane between the cup and the rim. Thus a large excess of thin, flexiblematerial is provided by reason of which the cup or sack may adjustitself toany desired position other than the position shown in thedrawing. The excess of material provides also for freedom of action ininserting the device into its position of use as illustrated in Figs. 5to 7.

An application such as suggested for use is shown in Fig. 3 to 7 and,consists of a light wire frame having a handle IS with an offset orabutment IS, the wires being spread between the abutment l6 and theabutment I! at the extreme end of the tool, the space I8 formed byspreading the wires being of a size to receive the sack II as best shownin Fig. 4. It will be noted that with the rim engaging the abutments l6and H the device is considerably elongated and fiattened and that theframe or tool is substantially entirely concealed within the soft rubbermaterial. The reshaping of the diaphragm by attaching it in thedescribed manner to the tool enables its insertion into the vagina inthe manner shown in Fig. 5, the excess of material enabling the sackcontaining a medicament to be inserted without contracting it to anextent that would discharge the contents. The contracting of the neck ofthe sack also contributes toward this result. The contracting andthickening of the material of the neck also serves the purpose of firmlyengaging the cervix and, due to the gripping action, being retained inposition regardless of movement of the user. After the insertion hasbeen made, as indicated in Fig. 5, the finger of the user is pressedagainst the outer edge of the rim in the manner shown in Fig. 6whereupon the rim assumes its circular condition and the sack willadjust itself to the cervix regardless of its location. Afterdisengaging the tool, the abutment ll at its outer end may be used forgently forcing the rim into an extreme rear position in the vaginalcavity as shown in Fig. '7. In removal, the hooked end of the tool maybe caught on the rim at any point and the device easily pulled outward.

The excess of material associated with the relatively stiff rim insuresproper covering of the cervix and the application of the medicament tothe required organs, and the tool for use in connection with the deviceis designed to accomplish the easy and safe insertion and removal of thepessary without inconvenience.

I claim:

1. In combination, a flexible ring, an annular depending membrane, and asack having a marginal flange joined to said membrane, said sackprojecting into the space defined by the annular depending walls of themembrane.

2. In combination, a relatively stiff, flexible ring, an annulus ofrubber depending from the ring, a sack inversely positioned at thecenter of the annulus, and a diaphragm joining the open end of the sackto the lower end of said annulus.

3. In a pessary, the combination of a flexible ring, a cervical caplocated at the center of the ring and a relatively thin and pliablemembrane joining the cap and ring, said membrane being extendeddownwardly from the ring and thence inwardly to join with the open endof said cap, whereby a substantial excess of material is provided insaid membrane over that which would serve to connect the cap directly tothe ring, thereby enabling freedom of movement of the cap to requiredpositions other than at the center of the ring.

4. In combination, a flexible ring, a membrane extending downwardly fromsaid ring and thence inwardly, a sack joined to said inwardly projectingportion of said diaphragm, whereby said sack may adjust itself todifferent positions within the ring, the mouth of the sack beingslightly contracted.

PERCY L. CLARK, JR

